This scene caught my
attention, because the caterpillar appeared to be trying to attack the
grasshopper, but apparently it was already dead. A small
red and black insect landed, and was quickly grabbed in the fore-legs
of the caterpillar, and devoured hastily. Is this a carnivorous species
of Lepidopteran, opportunistic, or merely desperate. This took place on
a twig from the top of a fence post.

caterpillar eating red and black insect

dorsal view of caterpillar

UPDATE - this information
from Dale Schweitzer

I think it is a Heliothine
Noctuid perhaps even Helicoverpa zeae.
Predatory behavior is facultative in many Noctuidae
but by no means all.

It does appear to be Helicoverpa zea
(Boddie, 1850) or Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner,
1808), both major crop pests, also known as Corn Ear Worm, Tomato Grub,
Tobacco Budworm, and Cotton Bollworm. Larva are extremely variable.